The D&L Blog

Carve Out Some Time on the D&L Trail this Fall 

Written by Liz Rosencrans, DLNHC Director of Trails & Conservation

Fall is here! The autumn hues and cooler weather create the perfect conditions to explore the D&L Trail and the surrounding towns and businesses. Make a mental note of the following tips to let the gourd times roll out on the trail🎃🚵🍂 

• Leaf Peepers are emerging like the autumn colors– many locations along the D&L Trail are ideal for spotting the iconic yellow and orange fall foliage that’s getting ready to appear across the Corridor. Depending on where you are in the five-county Corridor, leaf peeping season is anticipated to hit its peak around mid-October. It can be so mesmerizing that some trail users stop abruptly in the middle of the trail to look up! Use caution when riding the trail this season. Remember to give a verbal warning when passing others, and step off the trail if you want to stop to take in the views.  
• Orange isn’t just for leaves – Hunting Season is active – the D&L Trail can be bordered by state game lands and areas where hunting is permitted. Look for hunting season signage on your trail section and always dress yourself and your pets in bright clothing. See Tiffany’s update on hunting seasons in the Frequently Asked Questions section. 
• Let’s Get Outside! – With cooler weather breaking the heat of the summer, events and group activities are bountiful across the Corridor! From Oktoberfest and Harvest Festivals to group Health & Heritage walks, you won’t run out of things to do this autumn. Check out our event calendar for ways to recreate or volunteer with DLNHC and don’t forget to sign up for our St. Luke’s D&L RaceFest set for November 10. 

Want to get involved, or catch up on the latest trail updates? Check out the below fall opportunities. 

• See DLNHC staff out on the trail this season at the Walnutport Canal Days (10/19-20) and Historic Bristol Day (10/19). 

• While our public Trail Tender events have wrapped up for the year, that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop! Reach out to me at  [email protected] to set up your own Private Trail Tender Event with friends, family, or co-workers. 

And for a little inspiration, here is a passage from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring “He found himself wondering at times, especially in the autumn, about the wild lands, and strange visions of mountains that he had never seen came into his dreams.”  – now stop dreaming and get out there to explore the beautiful hills and valleys of our three regions! 

Safety Precautions During Hunting Season

Written by Tiffany Serra, DLNHC Trails & Conservation Associate

When fully connected, the D&L Trail will stretch from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol. The trail connects multiple state parks, forests, and state game lands. With some small game and archery areas already open, and more hunting seasons quickly approaching, it is important that all trail users brush up on safely sharing outdoor recreation spaces during this time of year.  

We strongly recommend wearing bright safety orange when hiking near hunting grounds, so you are easily visible to nearby hunters. If you are hiking with your dog, it is crucial that they are leashed and wearing an orange or reflective vest. Many hunters only hunt near dusk or dawn, so you may want to avoid using the trail during those hours.  

Generally, the most common hunting season(s) in Pennsylvania goes from mid-September to mid-January. However, some Wildlife Management Units (carved out areas of the state) have different season dates. For example WMU 5C, that includes most of Lehigh and Northampton Counties plus others, is already in deer archery season right now. Additionally, there are some small game like squirrels, quail, ground hogs, crows, etc. that have very long seasons – starting as early as July. Make sure you are aware of your region’s specific guidelines before hitting the trails.

In general, hunting is prohibited on Sundays (unless you hunt foxes, coyotes, and crows), but there are three notable exceptions. This year hunting will be allowed on Sunday November 17, November 24, and December 1.  

Learn more about hunting season in PA from the Pennsylvania Game Commision’s Hunting & Trapping Digest for 2024 to 2025. 

Fellowship Along the D&L Trail

Written by Alice Wanamaker, DLNHC Economic Development Manager

As the Economic Development Manager at DLNHC, I enjoy supporting the local businesses on and around the D&L Trail. I make a point to arrive early for scheduled meetings and site visits so I can pop into the local coffee shop for a cup, or I schedule time for a quick bite at one of the many restaurants. I also love meeting new people and hearing stories about those who use the trail!  

I was visiting businesses one morning earlier this month and I noticed a group of gentlemen talking and laughing with one another and enjoying coffee from Diggity Dogs & More (Facebook) at the Slatington Trailhead picnic tables.

After introducing myself and chatting with them, I learned just how important it is for them to not only get together (they do so almost every single morning if they can) but also to support the local businesses in their area. This group of over ten retired residents from Slatington, Walnutport, Lehigh Township and Lehighton have been supporting Diggity Dogs since the food truck at the Trailhead first opened in 2017.  They come out in the heat of summer, and the cold of winter.  They talk about their families, tell jokes about the other guys in the group, and play pranks on one another like true “old friends” do.   

Dennis Rehrig (AKA Denny) of Walnutport, the unofficial spokesperson for the group, told me that they have a great time socializing with each other, Keith the owner of Diggity Dogs, and others they meet who are riding their bicycles or walking on the D&L Trail.  Dennis also said that when the food truck was closed earlier this year for a few months due to health reasons, the group continued to meet for coffee at other local establishments. They wanted to continue to support local businesses and to meet up, even when their favorite coffee spot wasn’t open. 

Denny is usually joined by Jimmy, Chuck, Vince, Wally, Joanne, Jeff, and Danny who are also enjoying retirement, and the fellowship they find at the Slatington Trailhead.  

“We’re just a bunch of old folks getting together and reminiscing about good times” he said and continued that the group likes to play pranks on one another. “You might leave with a clothes pin clipped on your shirt or a jelly pack in your gas cap.” 

If you and your friends want to find great spots along the trail to meet up regularly, you can find a full list of Trail Friendly Businesses on our website Trail Friendly Businesses.

Welcome to Your Spot

Written by Brit Kondravy, DLNHC Conservation Coordinator

As a young teenager, friends and I would visit the “towpath” at Sand Island and walk as far as we could. Rumor had it that if you followed the towpath long enough, you would reach Easton. We would walk for what felt like forever but never reach this fabled destination. And so, the length and connections of the D&L Trail remained mostly inconceivable to me —until I started working at DLNHC. 

As DLNHC’s Conservation Coordinator I have come to understand the full scale of the D&L Trail. How it flows through five counties, two state parks, and numerous municipal and county parks. How its 150+ completed miles and 25+ planned miles often parallel waterways, woodlands, and neighborhoods. And how it can be used as an alternative transportation network – offering access to hidden gems like covered bridges, sculptures, ruins, and trailside eateries – as the spine of my home region’s multiuse trail network, THE LINK.  

Something easily overlooked is the sheer amount of support and funding needed to close trail gaps. As well as how many community members are unaware of the D&L Trail and its relationship to our heritage, geography, and environment. But one thing is clear. Nature and trails are meant to be enjoyed by everyone. 

Last year, DLNHC launched the Take Action Campaign to raise awareness for D&L Trail gaps and water quality issues. This year we have a focus of connecting people to nearby trails and waterways. One of the ways we hope to achieve this goal is by working with partners and the public to share personal and meaningful trail experiences to positively influence friends and neighbors.  

By sharing how I meaningfully engage with our Corridor’s greenways and blueways, I hope to inspire others to seek out and enjoy this resource for themselves. I am not media savvy. But my belief in this mission inspired me to make my first Instagram reel. And if I can do it, you can do it. Just check out my story on Instagram. 

If you are interested in making a social media post, video, or blog about your meaningful D&L Trail experience, please visit our Take Action page to connect with DLNHC’s Take Action team. 

Everyone deserves to feel welcome on the D&L Trail. And everyone should have the tools to advocate for it.  

Who might you reach with your story? 

Planning for Improved Connections in Bucks County

Written by Liz Rosencrans, DLNHC Director of Trails & Conservation

Trail projects are like onions – there are many layers to develop a trail from concept to construction to maintenance – and the cycle is ongoing! One exciting example of this is a new planning project that will identify solutions for six existing D&L Trail-road crossings within Falls and Bristol Townships in the Delaware Canal Region. 

While this project won’t develop a new trail section, it will provide some much-needed attention to an existing section of trail that requires improvements to meet today’s standards. Falls Township was recently awarded funding from the Transportation and Community Development Initiative (TCDI) program though the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) to study these crossings. Projects like this are more common than you’d think as our idea of “safety” constantly evolves to catch up with our changing communities, travel and recreation trends, and technology. Thus, we make our way back to the center of the trail development onion to plan solutions that will be followed by engineering and eventually construction! 

Through the planning process DLNHC will work with the municipalities and partners like the Delaware Canal State Park, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and regional trail partners like the East Coast Greenway and Pennsylvania Environmental Council. Together we’ll identify safety features that meet the needs of each crossing while also satisfying the unique requirements of the historic canal structures and roadway standards.  

Keep your eyes peeled for public input surveys and meetings in 2025 for this project! 

A Long Expected Event!

Written by Whitney Davison, DLNHC Education Manager

On September 14^th  Get Your Tail on the Trail held our Mid-Point Mile Boost at Sand Island in Bethlehem to replace our kickoff event that was rained out in May.  

Every year Get Your Tail on the Trail holds two in-person events to kick off our online community challenges- the Winter Challenge and 165 Challenge. The 165 Challenge is the bigger of the two challenges, running from May to November. During this timeframe, participants are encouraged to log 165 miles of any activity or modality available on our website for a badge and health incentive. 

This event allows us to work in person with our sponsor, St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN). Not only do they support this program financially, but they also join our event with their St. Luke’s community ambassadors to help lead the activities. We host a walk, run and bike ride during so people can log their miles in whichever way they most desire.  

Our 8-mile bike ride was led by Mandy Marquardt, who is a 27-time U.S. National Champion, 5-time American Record Holder, 2-time 2023 Pan American Games Medalist and St. Luke’s Community Ambassador. Our 4-mile run was led by John Graham who is a Senior Network Administrator for Fitness & Sports Performance at St. Luke’s University Health Network. Our 2-mile walk was led by Kristen Staula, DO, Chiropractor at St. Luke’s Chiropractic Care- Bethlehem.  

We also had a representative from St. Luke’s Clinical Nutrition Services, Debbie Cooper, St. Luke’s Manager of Clinical Nutrition Services, and St. Luke’s Mental Health services, Kim Stone and Julie Morgano of St. Luke’s Psychiatric Associates.  

GYTOT focuses on physical health but believes that we cannot be physically healthy without also paying attention to our nutritional and mental health needs.  By bringing local resources to public events, we hope to help make connections between these resources and people who may be seeking them.  

The Mid-point Mile Boost went smoothly with about 100 participants joining the event. The weather was beautiful, and everyone had a good time.  If you haven’t logged 165 miles yet, there is still time. You have 2 more months to log your miles. For more information check out our website.   

Web Map Updates

IMPORTANT NOTE: Our Interactive Map is updated regularly with information provided by landowners. Please note, an update will remain posted with the original posting date for as long as the incident is relevant.  

Please check our Interactive Map for current updates before planning any excursions on the D&L Trail.  

There are multiple construction projects throughout the Delaware Canal Region and D&L Trail statuses may change weekly. Please practice patience and safety while navigating around these closures as it takes time to properly rebuild the trail. Closures at MM 44 and MM 31 remain closed to trail users. For more information about ongoing projects in the Delaware Canal Region, visit DCNR’s website 

• Wy Hit Tuk Park – Theodore Roosevelt Recreation Area – Obstruction within trail section – trail is closed at Raubsville sub-canal culvert in Williams Township 
• Tinicum Park – Virginia Forrest – Obstruction within trail section – trail is closed between MM 33.3-33.9 for hazardous tree removal 
• Virginia Forrest Recreation Area – New Hope – Complete, Open and Improved –  
• New Hope – Washington Crossing (Upper) – Complete, Open and Improved –  

TRIP ALERT: St. Luke’s D&L RaceFest will take place on Sunday November 10^th between Allentown Canal Park Trailhead in the City of Allentown to Forks of the Delaware Trailhead in Easton. Due to heavy trail traffic, please consider exploring the trail in the Anthracite and Delaware Regions on this date. 

See you on the Trail from the T&C Department